Crossing Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, this ride will take us on a journey of discovery through historic cities, untouched wilderness and along breathtaking coastline. Our trip will start in Tallinn. The fairytale architectural style sets an enchanting scene, which will feature throughout the trip as we journey through Tartu, Riga, Trakai and Vilnius. Between the architectural highlights we will also enjoy some of the best cycling this region has to offer, through beautiful national parks and along idyllic coastal paths.

Itinerary

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1Day 1Start Tallinn.

Start Tallinn.
On arrival there should be some time to explore Tallinn. Tallinn is a fascinating historical city with many sites to explore. We recommend strolling through the streets of the Old Town to Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square), the square is surrounded by elaborate merchant houses and is the perfect setting to enjoy a coffee. Historically it served as a market and meeting place. If you find the round stone with a compass rose in the middle of the square you will be able to see the 5 church spires of the old town. The Cathedral of Saint Mary, St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Olav's Church have long characterised the skyline of the old town and are well worth a visit, as are the old town walls.

2Day 2Explore Tallinn; transfer to Lahemaa N.P. for our first ride through woodland, marshes and lakes.

After a bus transfer out of the city we will begin our first ride through National Park Lahemaa. The Park, one of the last unspoilt regions of the Baltic coast, extends over 700 square kilometers. It's nature is rich and unique. Here you will cycle through thick woods, marshes and lakes. Above all, the coastline is what makes this area unique. It is also a rich environment for wildlife, moose and wild boar maybe more difficult to spot but over 220 species of bird populate this area, so keep your eyes open. Our accommodation for the evening is situated in the National Park itself. It is a spectacular setting in the grounds of an old distillery.
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3Day 3Transfer to Peipsi Lake which devides Estonia and Russia, cycle along it's shore; drive to Tartu, Estonia's second city.

This morning we will begin with a bus transfer before we start cycling along the shore of Peipsi lake – one of the biggest European lakes, which divides Estonia and Russia. The lake has dictated the lives of those that surround its shores for centuries, offering food, power, impacting on the climate and now it is a popular local holiday destination. The views around the shore are spectacular in places and make for a fantastic setting for our ride. We will end our ride in Varnja, close to the lake side and then transfer to Tartu, the second-biggest city of Estonia, and also an important university town.
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4Day 4Ride through 'Estonian Switzerland'; transfer to Cesis.

Today we cycle through the more undulating scenery of the so called Estonian Switzerland. The area offers a fantastic backdrop to our ride. The elevations in the ride will be up to 280m. At the end of our ride we are transferred by bus to Cesis, crossing our first boarder into Latvia. The former Hansa-city, proudly looking back at it’s 800 years of history, lies in the centre of the National Park Gauja. This National Park was founded in 1973 and is the oldest and largest national park in Latvia, known for the sandstone cliffs that characterise the park and the Gauja river, from which the park takes it name.
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5Day 5Enjoy a day off the bike to explore the historic cities of Cesis and Riga. Latvia's capital is a real gem with it's elegantly renovated old town.

Today we have a day off the bike to explore the fascinating cities of Cesis and Riga. Cesis is built on the banks of the Gauja river and was constructed in tiers overlooking the water and the surrounding national park. There is a great deal to see here including the first stone castle built in Latvia which was constructed in 1206 by German crusaders. The castle is undoubedtly Cesis most famous site, however, there is much more to see. You can wander the narrow and cobbled streets of the Old Town which have been preserved in layout and appearance since the Middle Ages. We will then transfer by bus to Riga, the capital of Latvia. There, another magnificent Old Town awaits us. With over 800 renovated Art Nouveau buildings, elegant boulevards, and small, curvy alleys, the Latvian capital offers a charming, romantic atmosphere. We will spend the night in this glorious city so you will have plenty of time to enjoy all it has to offer.
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6Day 6Coastal ride from Riga to Liepaja, cycling on the beach for 15km with plenty of swimming opportunities.

Our journey today will start in Riga, passing through Lielupa on the Baltic coast. Our route will mainly follow a specific cycle track along the beach offering us plenty of opportunities for a dip in the sea and also for very relaxed cycling where we really can just enjoy the setting. It really is an unforgettable experience. We will end the day in Liepaja, known as the city 'where the wind was born', due to the sea breeze that often blows through the town. The town is famous for its artistic culture and many bustling markets so you will have plenty to enjoy.

7Day 7Cross the Lithuanian border to Klaipeda via the seaside resort of Palanga.

After breakfast we leave Latvia and ride directly to Lithuania. We begin our ride in Sventoji on a beautiful cycle route to Klaipeda, which lies along the Baltic Coast. On the way we pass Palanga. Palanga is the traditional bucket and spade seaside town, with a long stretch of sandy beach it is a really fun place to stop, have a wander around, a dip in the sea, and see one of the most favoured seaside towns among Lithuanians. It is one of those places that is held closely to the heart of the nation, not for its high-brow culture but for the holiday memories it gives to so many. There are numerous cafes to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and have some lunch before we set off again for our final destination of Klaipeda. Our hotel is close to the Old Town, so a good spot from which to explore.
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8Day 8Cycle along the Curonian Spit, the narrow strip of dunes which devides the sea from the lagoon, to Nida.

A short bus transfer will take us to the ferry port, from here we cross the lagoon and reach the 68-kilometer long Curonian Spit. The high dunes (up to 60 meters) running along the spit have encouraged the local people to refer to the area as the 'Lithuanian Sahara'. During our ride we will make a stop in Juodkrante and admire the bizarre wooden carvings on what is known as Witch Hill. The sculpture park was started in 1979 and now has more than 70 wooden carvings representing characters of Lithuanian folktale and legend. We will then continue along the spit with the Baltic Sea extending far into the distance. Our journey will end in Nida, known as town of retreat and an artists resort. It was home and inspiration for two summers to the author Thomas Mann and its affluent feel and tranquility encourages the feeling that you are on a holiday within a holiday.
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9Day 9Enjoy a boat across the Curonian Lagoon; cycle through Lithuania Minor to Kaunas.

Our journey will start with a ferry crossing of the Curonian Lagoon, taking approximately 2 hours. The Lagoon is over 20 km wide, which makes seeing the opposite shore with a naked eye difficult. We reach the mainland close to the Minija river and begin our ride through Lithuania Minor towards Sakuciai and Silute. Our destination is Kaunas ï¿½ the former capital of Lithuania. It is worth taking some time to stroll the streets of the town, like so many of the towns we have already visited it has an interesting Old Town waiting for your discovery.

10Day 10Ride through the Lithuanian lake district to the famous Trakai Castle; transfer to Vilnius.

Today there are many highlights, from the spectacular rolling countryside to architectural gems. By bike we will arrive at Galve Lake where the magical and famous gothic Trakai castle sits, as if floating on its own island in the middle of the lake. It is a truly magical place. After some time to walk around or take an optional guided tour, we will leave by bus to reach our final destination, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Once again it's Old Town will stun the spectator with the beauty and variety of Baroque and Classical buildings, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. Once again our accommodation is well located so you can easily explore the town.
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Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are reasonably fit, enjoy the outdoors and are looking for some exercise. Some previous experience is preferable for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Local bike hire (GBP90 paid on booking)

Single accommodation (available on request for a supplement of GBP230)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels

You will spend 10 nights in comfy 3-star hotels, all with en suite facilities and in good locations. There are some fantastic hotels on this trip, one of the highlights is a converted distillery set in magnificent grounds.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
British passport holders do not require a visa. Other nationalities should check with the relevant authorities.
There are no specific health risks. Holiday style

Cycling Conditions
Average daily distance: 45km (28 miles)
No. of days cycling: 8
Vehicle Support: 100%
Terrain and route: surface: 90% tarmac and 10% gravel tracks. Routes follow mainly quiet backroads, paths through the national parks and coastal cycle tracks. There are some undulating sections, so a moderate level of fitness is required. As we are covering a large area there are bus transfers on most of the cycling days, this enables us to cover the distances and see all the highlights and use the bikes to cover the best bits.

Please note that before reaching the cities the leader will give you information on their history and places of interest and will guide you into town, however, they are not allowed to give you a guided tour of the city once you are there due to restrictions of tour leaders, only official city guides are allowed to do this. You will have the choice of wandering around the cities at your own pace, or you can pay locally for a guide. We will leave this up to you.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts included.

Breakfast: These will be taken in the hotels, in most places these will be buffet style and will offer plenty of choice, including cold meat, cheese, eggs, bread, jams and juice.
Lunches: On many of the days due to our remote rides there will be the option to buy a picnic from the hotel or get supplies on the way, we can then chose a spot on our ride to stop for a break. This means we can be flexible and chose the best views for lunch. On some of the days there will be opportunities to buy lunches in cafes in the towns that we go through such as Palanga.
Dinners: These will be taken in the hotels or in restaurants and will be hearty meals. Cuisine in this area is often centred around pork, veal, fish, potatoes, sauerkraut and soups such as borsch (beetroot soup with meat, in Lithuania this is also served cold). Dumplings are also very popular and in Trakai, large, baked dumplings called kibinai are traditionally served and are very good.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

The climate is largely influenced by the Baltic Sea. The summers are warm with temperatures from 20 to 30degC. In the evenings the temperatures will not drop too much. There is little rain in the summer but of course it is always a possibility so it is best to be prepared. The days will be long, with 19 hours of daylight. In spring and autumn there is the possibility for light rain.

Estonia is furthest north and therefore the coldest, although the temperature range described applies. Lithuania is the furthest south, which makes it the warmest country of the three. Estonia is often described as the more Scandinavian country than the other two.

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Reviews & community

This trip provides an informative, especially from a historical and political perspective, insight into the Baltic States. Experience it for yourself now and your perspective will change. Plus these countries will change and evolve in the coming years. The relaxed but still very busy trip, combines a balanced mix of exercise, scenery, history, architechture and an introduction to the three countries.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The cycle ride down the Curonian Spit a Unesco site.

What did you think of your group leader?

Because of circumstances we had two guides (Polish) who spoke perfect English and were well versed especially from an historical point of view.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

You will not be totally fed on dumplings and pork. The food may come as a surprise as will the quality of the accommodation

Is there anything else you would like to add?

A well planned trip visiting the three Baltic Countries which have successfully emerged from being states of the USSR and now showing their individual characteristics. Cycling is an ideal way to see the Countries away from the big cities.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The Countryside is mostly flat and the traffic light so cycling was not a problem and we did not cycle in any of the large cities. The distances of a maximum of 50kms per day were easily manageable. I am not a cyclist but a runner and although I had done some cycle training before the holiday, I had no problem with the cycling. A measure of fitness is required for this trip.

The Cities of Tallinn, Riga and Villinius are interesting and my only criticism of the trip is that insufficient time was allowed to visit these places and if you have the time available, I would recommend arriving a day earlier than the trip and leaving a day later. The tour araound Cecis Casle could be dropped in favour of an earlier departure for Riga.

What did you think of your group leader?

We had two Group Leaders, Petyr met us in Tallinn and stayed to Lielupa and then Tomas took over for the remainder of the trip. Both Leaders were satisfactory but lacked the sprak of enthusiasm usually associated wth Exodus leaders.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Just as you are approaching Klaipeda you use a cycle track which is fast but a post has been broken off leaving about three inches protruding in the middle of the track. I did not see it and fell off the cycle breaking my collar bone and severely bruising myself. The Lithuanian A&E was excellent and I did not have to pay anything as I had the E111 card.

Beware of that post, I am sure that all the potential leaders of this trip will be warned of its existence now and hopefully the local Company are putting pressure on the Klapedia authorities to saw off the post to ground level.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This is a very well planned trip which is still in its first year of operation for Exodus and with just a few modifications to allow greater time in the Cities would make it a first class trip. The Hotels were excellent throughout and the food served of a high quality and the restaurants always took great care in the presentation of the meals.

A really excellent holiday that takes in some amazing countries and scenery. Everything about this holiday was great from the cities of Tallin, Riga and Vilnius to the Curonian Strait, beatiful beaches and lakes galore. The quality of the food and the accommodation was also surprisingly good.

After a childhood spent in foreign countries and the post university travelling, Jim ended up in travel almost by accident. Since then he has worked in a variety of travel positions and has discovered a love for Asia. Jim's passion started when he arrived in Mongolia after an epic journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Since then he has travelled vast swathes of the continent and has a lot more planned for the future. His next stop will hopefully be Bhutan.

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